Catholic priest joins clergy Gaza protest at Minister’s office

By CathNews New Zealand

September 16th, 2025

The protest outside the office of MP Nicola Willis (Anglican Movement/Facebook)

A Catholic priest took part in a protest over Israel’s actions in Gaza staged by clergy from different denominations at the offices of two Cabinet ministers on Monday. Source: New Zealand Herald.

The priests said on September 15 that they planned to protest all night at Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ Wellington office as they called on the Government to sanction the state of Israel. Anglican and Baptist clergy also staged a sit-in at Health Minister Simeon Brown’s office in Pakuranga, Auckland, before being trespassed.

Several Anglican priests and one Catholic priest were at Ms Willis’ office in Johnsonville on September 15. The Catholic priest is understood to be Wellington Archdiocese Vicar General Msgr Gerard Burns.

They chained themselves to each other by their wrists. One of the protesters secured himself to the door of the office with what appeared to be a bike lock tied around their waist and linked to the door handle.

The priests said they would stay all night and fast in a bid to get the Government to make a commitment on Gaza.

“We’re fasting as well and some of us from water because that is what the people of Palestine are experiencing,” Anglican Reverend Mel McKenzie said on Monday.

“We’re happy to remain overnight, at this stage and dig it in. We’ve heard the cries over the weekend from thousands of people in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland and also just around the country in constant protests and we’ve got to the point where we are asking the government to give us a time frame in particular.”

A march by 20,000 protesters in Auckland took place on September 13, and organisers called for Government action against Israel.

Anglican Archdeacon Martin Robinson, who is also at Ms Willis’ office, said: “We are heartbroken to watch the starvation of children and bombing of entire families in Gaza while it is clear New Zealand is not doing all it can to intervene and put pressure on Israel to uphold international law.

“As priests, we believe every child is made in the image of God. Our faith motivates us to peacefully resist injustice and to call for action that can pressure change.”

Radio New Zealand reported that a separate group of church leaders, the Coalition of Ministers Supporting Israel in New Zealand, said in a statement that it distanced itself from the groups that protested.

FULL STORY

Priests stage sit-ins at Nicola Willis and Simeon Brown offices over Gaza (By Samuel Sherry and Ethan Manera/NZ Herald)

Priests chain themselves in front of electorate office, other protesters trespassed (RNZ)